Young patients rushed to Children's Medical Center Dallas from
any one of the 13 local hospitals owned by Texas Health Resources
Inc. now will have their health records instantly uploaded with the
click of a mouse.

Texas Health Resources and Children's Medical Center said
Tuesday they can now electronically exchange medical information on
a mutually treated patient.

This is made possible through a secure health information
exchange product provided by Epic Systems Corp. It is the first
such exchange in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Computerizing the paper-based world of medicine was a
significant component of last year's $787 billion stimulus package,
which reserved $45 billion for hospitals and physicians to adopt
electronic health records.

Despite years of technology development, most hospitals and
physician offices, including those in North Texas, can't
electronically share information or even record patient data.

Texas Health and Children's Medical Center have finally worked
out the regulatory kinks of privacy issues and technology
compatibility.

"Doctors won't have to duplicate recent tests, will immediately
know of any medicines prescribed at previous hospital visits and
will be able to determine a course of action with accurate
information," Marx said.

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.